By Kevin Orton,
Worldwide Trophy Adventures Application Specialist

As you all know the 2011 hunting season is behind us and what a year it was.  Some of the biggest animals in history have hit the dirt.  However what is most important for all of us hunters is that we get our plan together now for the 2012 hunting season.  The application process starts this month and you have no time to waste in order to make sure you are maximizing your opportunity to go hunting.  So what I want to do in this article is give you a short state by state run down of what you need to be prepared for when you apply in that state.

Dustin Hammer with his 80” Speed Goat drawn with 6 points.

Alaska
Alaska does not currently have a bonus point program.  You do have to buy a non refundable hunting license in order to put in that will cost approximately $85 and then it will cost $5 per hunt choice that you put in for with the ability to put in for up to 3 hunt choices per species.  The application period is between November and December and if you draw you will then be charged for the tag fees for the species you have drawn.

Arizona
Arizona does have a bonus point program. In order to apply you do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license for around $151. Arizona has a new program this year to allow you to apply on line. You do not have to send the tag fees up front when you apply. You do have to send $7.50 up front for each species you apply for.  If you are drawn for any species you will then be charged for the tag fee of that  animal.  If you want to apply for “points only” you do not have to send the tag fees up front. Just buy the license and then it is $7.50 per species that you want to get a point for. Arizona has a draw period that is split between January and May.

California
California does have a bonus point system.  In order to apply you do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license for around $151.  If you apply for deer you do have to pay the tag fee up front but all other species can be applied for with about an $8 fee up front and then you would only pay the tag fee if you were drawn for that species.  The deer tag fee is refunded if you are not drawn.  California’s application periods are usually in May.

Colorado
Colorado does have a bonus point program.  When you apply you do have to send the whole tag fee in for the species you are applying for.  If you are not successful you will receive a refund minus a $25 fee for the preference point per species applied for and the $10 habitat stamp you have to purchase.  Colorado’s application period is usually in the month of March.

Idaho
Idaho does not currently have a bonus point system.  You do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license in order to apply for about $155.  In Idaho you can only apply for ONE of the following species…sheep, moose or goat OR you can apply for deer, elk and antelope in any combination you like.  If you apply for a sheep or moose or goat you will have to send the whole tag fee in at the time of application.  If you do not draw you will be refunded all but $14.75 for an application fee.  If you apply for deer, elk, antelope or any combination of those species you only have to send in $14.75 per species you are applying for and then if you draw you can pay the tag fee for the species drawn.  Idaho’s application period is usually in May.

Iowa
Iowa does have a bonus point system.  If you apply to try to draw a deer tag you will have to buy a non resident hunting license for around $112, a habitat stamp for $13, and send in the tag fees of $426.  If you do not draw you can get a refund of all but about $70 for the bonus point fee and some internet charges.  However you can also just apply for a point only and pay only about $50 up front to do that. Iowa’s application period is usually in May.

Kansas
Kansas has a bonus point system.  However currently it is a 100% draw opportunity.  Some folks still accumulate points by putting in for points only and then buying the tags as soon as they come out with the leftover tags from the draw.  That way you get a point and a tag all in the same year.  If you put in to draw you do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license for about $80 and then when you draw you will pay the tag fee.  You can put in for points only without having to buy a hunting license for about $23. Kansas’ application period is usually in April.

Montana
Montana does have a bonus point system.  You first have to put in for a general draw for deer and elk and you pay up front when you apply.  If you draw the general tag then you can put in for the special permits for deer and elk.  If you do not draw the special tag you can get a refund of 80% from the general tags by turning them in.  If you want to apply for moose, sheep, goat or antelope, you will have to pay the whole tag free up front.  If you do not draw you will be charged 2% of the tag fee plus $1.25 transaction fee which is about $16 per species. Montana’s application period is split depending on what you are applying for between March and April.

Nevada
Nevada does have a bonus point system.  You do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license in order to apply for around $145.  Once you have done that you can apply for each species for about $15 on line.  If you do draw any tags you will then be charged the tag amount.  If you send your application by mail then you do have to send all tag fees up front.  You should not apply by mail unless you have to.  Nevada’s application period is usually in April.

New Mexico
New Mexico does not currently have a bonus point system.  When you apply you do have to send all tag fees up front with your application.  If you don’t draw you will receive a full refund minus a $20 application fee for each species you applied for.  New Mexico’s application period is usually in March except for Oryx which is in January.

Steve Gurney with his 218 2/8 Henrys archery buck drawn with 14 points.

North Dakota
North Dakota does have a bonus point system.  Currently you can apply for deer, sheep, and antelope.  On deer and sheep you do send the tag fees up front and if not drawn you will receive a full refund minus $5.  If you apply for sheep you send in $100 that is non-refundable with your application and if drawn you will pay an additional $500 for the sheep tag.  North Dakota’s application period is usually split between March, June and August.

Oregon
Oregon does have a bonus point system.  You do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license in order to apply.  It then costs around $8 per species to apply.  You will only have to pay the tag fees if you are drawn successfully.  The tag fees are non refundable.  Oregon’s application period is usually in April.

South Dakota
South Dakota does have a bonus point system.  Non residents can gain points for mule deer and antelope.  Mule deer are divided into two regions.  The east region non residents cannot gain points for deer but can put in to draw.  The west region non residents can gain bonus points if they don’t draw.  You do not have to send tag fees up front or purchase a license when you apply.  You can apply for points only for $5 per species.  South Dakota’s application period is usually in April.

Utah
Utah does have a bonus point system.  You do have to purchase a non refundable hunting license to apply for about $65.  You only have to pay a $10 handling fee when you apply.  If you are drawn you will then have to pay the tag fee for the species you drew. Utah’s application period is usually in February.

Washington
Washington does have a bonus point system.  It will cost you $60 each to apply for moose, sheep, or goat.  You will then pay the tag fees if you are drawn.  For elk and deer you have to pay the tag fees up front when you apply and they are NOT refundable if you do not draw. Washington’s application period is usually in April.

Wyoming
Wyoming does have a bonus point system.  You do have to pay the whole tag fee up front for each species that you apply for.  If you do not draw you will receive a full refund of the tag fees minus a $14 application fee per species applied for.  You can buy a point for each species you want instead of applying if you just want to build points.  Wyoming’s application period usually starts in January.  You can buy points only in September.

Folks it is a lot to keep track of but I am telling you from one hunter to another you MUST play the bonus point game.  It does take time but it will pay big dividends in the end.  With a little bit of luck it will pay them right away.  If you don’t have time to worry about it yourself give me a call and let me put together your hunt profile and do your applications for you.  If you sign up we will apply your kids for free the first year to get them started.  We have the cheapest rates in the industry at $50 per state and $10 per species.  The truth is you can’t afford not to be in the draws every year.  Call me at 435-656-0205 and I will get you in the system and on your way to hunting the most coveted places in the world.  You can also go to our website at www.worldwidetrophyadventures.com and click on the “application service” tab to get started.

Join the forum discussion on this post